Three decades ago, a group of
engineers, food scientists, and missionaries formed a nonprofit
organization dedicated to relieving global hunger and poverty in a new
way. Rather than simply sending food to feed the hungry, Compatible
Technology International (CTI) would use the expertise of its volunteers
to help communities in developing nations spur agricultural and
economical growth with local resources.
While CTI began building
its legacy in the early 1980s, Liberia was entering a period of
political instability and war that would last decades, leaving thousands
of civilians dead and the country's economy devastated. In recent
years, the political situation in Liberia has calmed, giving Liberians
the breathing room to begin recovering economically. With 85% of its
population living on less than $1.25 a day, Liberia has the second
highest unemployment rate in the world. As Liberian citizens begin
healing after years of enduring unspeakable violence, the threat of
economic collapse will continue to threaten the country's progress.
So
how can ordinary individuals help rebuild a country that faces
seemingly insurmountable odds? For CTI volunteers, the answer lies in
empowering to better utilize indigenous crops. Recently, CTI volunteers,
Dick Fulmer and Ed Galle, helped locals in two Liberian villages make
and operate solar dehydrators, simple devices that will increase and add
value to their food crops. The dehydrators were designed by CTI
engineers to dry and preserve crops without the loss of nutrition that
can occur from sun-bleaching. The communities will primarily be using
the dryers to process leaves from the moringa
tree. Moringa leaves are
highly nutritious, and after the dried leaves are ground with CTI's
grinders, farmers can sell Moringa
powder in the marketplace or use it to treat malnutrition in their
communities.
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"This was
a huge success! It
provided opportunities for the farmers and beneficiaries to participate
fully in the process of trying out things for themselves, a typical
example of how sustainable development processes should be
implemented."
- Mozart Adevu,
Africa Regional Coordinator for the
Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program for the United
Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
Compatible Technology
International is committed to sustainable development. The communities
in Liberia with access to solar dehydrators have a new opportunity to
increase their incomes and improve their nutrition. Furthermore, local
craftsmen now have the ability to replicate the solar dehydrator
technology in other villages.
By transferring skills and
knowledge, CTI engages communities in their own development. But we
can't do it alone. CTI relies on support from those who believe in
providing long-term pathways out of poverty.
Will you join us?
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